CESTAT President Bharihoke Quits
WE are told that Justice Ajit Bharihoke relinquished his office as President of CESTAT yesterday. Day before yesterday, DDT called up the President and he was not too keen to talk. When we asked him about his quitting CESTAT, he told us that nothing was certain.
And yesterday, when we called up his office, we are informed that he has relinquished charge. It is understood that he is joining the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission as a Member.
Justice Bharihoke took over as President of the CESTAT exactly nine months ago on 12.03.2012. His predecessor, Justice Khandeparker demitted office seven months ago on 12.08.2011.
It will take a minimum of six months to get a new President and even then, we are not sure that Government would appoint a President. The other Tax Tribunal, the ITAT is the first Tribunal in India and is more than seventy years old. The ITAT is without a regular President for the last two and a half years!